Filling carriers for shuttleless looms



Jan. 28, 1964 M. R. FLAMAND 3,119,416

FILLING CARRIERS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Sept. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. MAURICE R. FZAMRND A TTORNEY Jan. 28, 1964 M. R. FLAMAND FILLING CARRIERS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1961 IN VEN TOR. MHz/Ric: R. F LRMRND A TTORNEY United States Patent This invention pertains to improvements in filling carriers for use in shuttleless looms, wherein one carrier is adapted to insert a loop of filling part way through a shed to a point where a companion carrier receives that loop of filling and extends it through the remainder of the shed.

It is a general object of the invention to structurally improve the thread engaging portions of the filling carriers herein described.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide improved type filling carriers which offer positive and accurate manipulation of the filling yarn and which are far less detrimental than filling carriers of the prior art to warp threads not fully crossed within the shed during insertion and withdrawal of the carriers therefrom.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In so-called shuttleless looms, that is, in those looms wherein filling yarn is supplied from an outside source and is not carried back and forth through the shed by a shuttle or carrier itself, it is common practice to insert each pick of filling by two reciprocating elements, one of which will hereinafter be referred to as an inserter or inserting member and the other of which receives or has transferred to it that loop of filling yarn projected into the shed by the first member and which will hereinafter be referred to as a filling receiving or filling extending carrier. These filling carriers are normally provided with filling receiving notches through and across which the filling yarn is caused to pass during the process of inserting the filling at one side of the shed and extending it to the opposite side. The inserting carrier is provided with an upper and a lower filling receiving notch into which the filling is received and guided as this carrier is projected into the shed to meet and transfer a length of filling sufficient to complete a single pick into the receiving notch of the extending carrier where it is then extended through the remainder of the shed. The carriers herein described are caused to perform in a manner well known to those familiar with the art and for a more detailed disclosure of them it it considered sufiicient at this point merely to call attention to certain patents which are illustrative of the type of loom to which the instant invention pertains. Reference is hereby made to the United States Patents 2,586,638; 2,604,123; 2,705,508 and 2,928,427.

The weaving of certain types of fabrics, particularly that of high sley such, for example, as poplin or broadcloth, it is not uncommon for some warp threads to knit or in other words to fully cross during harness shedding. Unfavorable conditions of this nature can be attributed to warp yarn preparation wherein slubs and other impurities are caused to adhere to the warp threads during the preparatory stages. Imperfections of this nature very often cause certain warp threads to knit or stick together and present an obstructed shed into which the filling carriers are caused to enter. In many cases, filling carriers which enter a shed of this type will cut or tear out the warp yarns obstructing their path of travel resulting in stoppage of the loom and the time consuming job of tying in these ends.

According to the instant invention, filling receiving and extending carriers have been so devised as to effect their intended functions without injury to the warp threads which might obstruct their path of travel and Without affecting the certainty with which they are caused to insert and extend a length of filling.

The inserting carrier presents a stretch of filling which is caused to pass through an upper and a lower filling receiving notch. These notches are so disposed as to place the upper notch in line with and directly above the lower notch. Each of these notches are provided on one side thereof with a camming means for guiding and directing the warp threads away from and past said notches during the period of the carriers travel when inserting a length of filling yarn. The filling extending carrier includes a hook member and a combined trapping and tensioning member. The hook member has a top planar portion at its upper forward end which as well as a thread engaging tip serves to cam and guide this carrier within the confines of the inserting member in the event some misalignment of the carriers should develop. Additionally this top planar portion has a depending front inclined surface which is directed downwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The combined trapping and tensioning member has one end thereof in spring contact with this inclined surface and is disposed at substantially the same angle as said surface.

The thread engaging surfaces of both these carriers are disposed in such a manner that should an obstruct ed shed present itself, the carriers will enter said shed and depending on the position of the intersecting point of warp threads not fully crossed, they will either pass between these threads causing them to open to their normal position or will pass above or below them. It is possible that such an intersecting point will be so disposed as to cause a carrier to ride up and pass through the upper warp sheet, in which event no serious problems will be introduced as the carriers thread engaging surfaces are such that penetration of the upper warp sheet and withdrawal therefrom can be done without fear of cutting or tearing out any of said warp threads.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the filling extending carrier to which the present invention is applicable showing the combined trapping and tensioning member applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a filling inserting carrier showing the aligned filling notches therein and the camming means for guiding and directing the warp threads away from and past said notches.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the carrier shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line S8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional View taken along line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing in elevation an open shed, knitted warp threads illustrated by dotted lines and the manner in which the filling extending carrier passes between these threads which are shown as dot-and-dash lines.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 but 3 showing the filling extending carrier passing beneath the knitted warp threads.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. but showing the filling extending carrier passing above the knitted warp threads.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 but showing the filling extending carrier and the path of travel it assumes when caused to pass through the upper warp sheet.

Now referring to the figures of drawing the carriers herein described may be formed as more or less functionally integral portions at the ends of reciprocating members such as to so-called needles or rapiers employed in some looms, or flexible elements such as have been used in others. Preferably flexible carriers or tapes are utilized to reciprocate the thread carrying members themselves which are casued to center the shed formed by warp threads and to be withdrawn therefrom.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a filling extending carrier generally indicated by numeral 21 which is attached by some suitable means to tape 20. This carrier includes a vertical rear side plate 22 extending substantially along the entire length of the carrier and at its leading end it tapers upwardly terminating in the form of a point 23. Plate 22 is supplemented at its upper leading end by a flat laterally extending top surface 24 whereby the two surfaces form somewhat of an L-shaped section as illustrated in the sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 5. The top surface 24 has extending therefrom a downwardly and rearwardly directed inclined surface 25 from which a lower surface 26 extends rearwardly to the vertical rear side plate 22. A filling receiving notch 27 is formed below the top surface 24 and as a part of the lower surface 26. These surfaces all blend with a curved leading inclined surface 28 and point 23 forming a combined filling engaging tip and camming surface for guiding and directing the extending carrier to the filling transfer point within the confines of the inserting member in the event any misalignment of the carriers is introduced. Additionally this carrier includes a combined trapping and tensioning member 2h one end of which assembles against a web member 30 which projects forwardly from and forms an integral part of the vertical rear side plate 22. The opposite end of the combined trapping and tcnsioning member 2? is in spring contact with the inclined surface 25 and is disposed at substantially the same angle as this surface.

The inserter or inserting carrier to which the instant invention is applicable is somewhat similar in structure to the inserting carrier disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,705,508.

This carrier which is indicated generally in FIGS. 6 and 7 by numeral 31 is attached by any suitable means to the free end of a flexible tape 32 which is similar to tape 20 and is also tapered at its free end as at 33 so as to blend into the general dimensions of the carriers width. It comprises a top planar portion 33' having a filling receiving notch 34 that cooperates with a notch 35 in the lower portion of this structure which is in vertical alignment with and directly below the upper notch 34.

Upper notch 34- has integrally formed on one side thereof a raised camming surface 36 which extends the length of and forwardly of said notch to blend into the thread engaging tip 37 of the carrier.

The forward portion of carrier 31 is also cut away on the rear or inner side thereof as defined by line 38 and dotted line 39 in FIG. 6 thus presenting an open side therein lessening the confined area through which the extending carrier must pass to reach the filling transfer point within the confines of the inserting member 31.

The filling receiving notches 34 and 35 are positioned adjacent to the open side of the carrier which forms one side of said notches. The inner side of notch d- 35 tapers gradually upwardly to its terminus as at 40 in FIG. 7 and in conjunction with the raised camming surface 36 forming one side of notch 34 these surfaces serve to guide and direct the warp yarns away from and past said notches during insertion of this carrier into the warp shed.

In operation, the filling yarn is projected into the shed and extended therethrough in a manner well known to those familiar with the art. The inserting member introduces a length of filling yarn which passes vertically between the upper and lower filling receiving notches to point approximately midway within the warp shed where it meets and transfers said filling to the filling extending carrier. The carriers then reverse their direction of travel and the filling is drawn through the remainder of the shed by the extending carrier to complete a given pick. If certain warp threads should knit or, in other words, not fully cross during shedding of the harnesses and present an obstructed shed into which the carriers are caused to enter, the thread engaging surfaces of both carriers are so disposed that the interfering warp threads are cammed away from those areas which could break or tear out said warp threads. As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 a filling carrier D will pass between over or under the knit warp threads, being governed, of course, by the relative location of the intersecting point of said knit warp threads with respect to the leading tip of the carrier. In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 the solid lines A represent the warp threads in normal shedding position; the dotted lines B represent knitted warp threads which do not fully cross during shedding thus presenting an obstructed shed into which the carriers are caused to enter. The dot-and-dash lines C represent the position these knitted warp threads are caused to assume when contacted by the carrier D during insertion of said carrier into the warp shed. FIG. 10 shows the warp threads B knitted at a point where the carrier 1) is caused to open or pass between said knitted threads. FIG. 11 shows the intersecting point of the knitted threads to be so positioned as to cause carrier D to pass beneath said threads and FIG. 12 shows this point to be somewhat lower which in effect causes said carrier to pass over these threads. In the event a carrier should rise above its normal path of travel and be caused to pass through the upper warp sheet as illustrated in FIG. 13 it will do so and be withdrawn therefrom without damaging effects. As with the latter figures of drawing, the solid lines A in FIG. 13 represent the warp threads in normal shedding position and the dot-and-dash lines C the position these threads would assume should carrier D be caused to rise up and pass through the upper warp sheet. By way of example, FIGS. 10 through 13 show only the extending carrier and the various ways it is affected by an obstructed shed; it is to be understood, however, that the inserting member will react to these conditions in the same manner.

Should an obstructed shed cause misalignment of the carriers, the combined thread engaging tip and camming surface of the extending carrier along with the open side of the inserting member will prevent damaging results to said carriers should they meet, which under conditions of the prior art would normally result in excessive damage to the carriers as well as defective fabric. Additionally the angle at which the combined trapping and tensioning member is disposed in relation to the combined thread engaging tip and camming surface of the extending carrier, eliminates the possibility of the tip of the inserting carrier entering between said member and the inclined surface with which it is in contact in the event of carrier misalignment (note FIG. 8).

A condition of this nature in carriers of the prior art have caused this trapping and tensioning member to be bent outwardly and as the carrier to which this member is attached reverses its direction of travel many warp threads would be cut by said damaged member.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. For a 100m having reciprocable carriers by which filling from an outside source of supply is inserted within sheds formed by warp threads, a filling extending carrier for receiving a loop of filling from a companion carrier adapted to insert that loop part way through the warp shed, and for extending an end from said filling loop across the remainder of the shed, which comprises a hooked member and a combined trapping and tensioning member, said hooked member including a top planar surface with a front inclined surface directed downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and said combined trapping and tensioning member having an end portion in spring contact with said inclined surface and disposed at substantially the same angle as said surface.

2. A filling extending carrier for a shuttleless 100m which comprises a hooked member having a generally vertically extending rear wall and a generally horizonzontally extending top planar surface, a curved leading edge, and a front inclined surface directed downwardly and rearwardly from said top surface toward said rear wall, whereby said carrier may be guided into a cooperatiug carrier with substantial clearance between the major portion of said inclined surface and said cooperating carrrer.

3. The filling extending carrier of claim 2 which includes a tensioning member in spring contact with said inclined surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 2,657,714 Ballber Nov. 3, 1953 0 3,014,503 Flamand Dec. 26, 1961 3,016,927 Nichols Jan. 16, 1962 

1. FOR A LOOM HAVING RECIPROCABLE CARRIERS BY WHICH FILLING FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE OF SUPPLY IS INSERTED WITHIN SHEDS FORMED BY WARP THREADS, A FILLING EXTENDING CARRIER FOR RECEIVING A LOOP OF FILLING FROM A COMPANION CARRIER ADAPTED TO INSERT THAT LOOP PART WAY THROUGH THE WARP SHED, AND FOR EXTENDING AN END FROM SAID FILLING LOOP ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE SHED, WHICH COMPRISES A HOOKED MEMBER AND A COMBINED TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER, SAID HOOKED MEMBER INCLUDING A TOP PLANAR SURFACE WITH A FRONT INCLINED SURFACE DIRECTED DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY THEREFROM AND SAID COMBINED TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER HAVING AN END PORTION IN SPRING CONTACT WITH SAID INCLINED SURFACE AND DISPOSED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGLE AS SAID SURFACE. 